In fairness to its organizers, FFF had some really bad luck. The cold weather that day discouraged attendance. As did the lack of yell leaders and the team due to Brandon Fails having died that morning.
OTOH, I think that "Bonfire replacement" activities no longer have a purpose. The Student Bonfire people already have a pre-t.u. game activity, and the rest of the current students have no reason to expect there to be one.